“Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it” (James 4:17 NLT).
There are sins of commission and sins of omission. The first is to commit a sin by breaking a law, and the second is to omit to do the good thing that was within your power to do. The word “know” has serious implications. For although ignorance of the law is no excuse, there might be some leniency for the one without knowledge. Yet, for the one who “knows,” there is greater condemnation. For to whom much is given, much is required.
There is the sin of doing what you ought not to do. And there is the sin of not doing what you ought to do. Both are sin. Although most of the commands are “thou shalt not,” some are “thou shalt.” In the case of the latter, such examples being, “Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,” and “Love thy neighbor as thyself,” they have at least equal, if not greater weight than the former.
I suppose we always know more than we do. This is the problem of the heart bent by the Fall. Yet, when we know and believe in Christ Jesus, all our sins are forgiven. We are born again and walking in the Spirit, we are empowered to stop doing what we ought not to do and begin doing what we ought to do to the glory of God.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You that through Jesus we have been born again and by Your Spirit we have Your law written on our hearts. You have given us new hearts that want to fulfill all that You have called us to do. Strengthen us this day to follow You in all things. In Jesus’ name, amen.